Pretty Woman on Blu-ray Disc Review
By Rachel Cericola
The Film
Pretty Woman can be credited as the film that unleashed Julia Roberts on the world. Sure, she had
Mystic Pizza (which netted her an Oscar nom),
Steel Magnolias, and even
Satisfaction before this 1990 movie became the mold for the future of the chick-flick genre. Still, it was this hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold fairytale that truly thrust the long-legged beauty to the top of the A-list.
If you haven't seen
Pretty Woman and still actually care about the plot of
Pretty Woman, it's about Vivian (Roberts), the hottest, sweetest hooker to ever rock high-heeled, thigh-high, zip-up boots. Despite taking the top spot in the world's smartest streetwalker contest, Vivian still has dreams of grandeur and knights with white horses that can scale L.A.'s sketchiest apartment buildings like Spider-Man to rescue her from a wretched existence. Thankfully, she meets Edward (Richard Gere), a gazillionaire with very little sense of humor, a penthouse, and a poor sense of direction. Edward
hires Vivian to pose as his better half for a week, and soon after, the romantic comedy genre scored its fourth biggest moneymaker of all-time.
The Picture
Vivian isn't the only one getting spruced up here. Blu-ray really enhances this 1990 film. That said, there's not too much detail to be found, and the film is a bit grainy. Also, with the exception of Vivian's new wardrobe, the color palette doesn't seem as bright as it could be. Still, take a peek at some of the footage in the extras to really appreciate the difference.
The Sound
No sound technology in the universe can make Roberts' rendition of "Kiss" sound better. However, it is much clearer. Overall, the uncompressed 5.1 sound also gives the dialogue a bit of a bump. A lot of that sound rests on the front speakers; however, you might want to consider sitting towards the back, or you'll bare the brunt of the very loud, very cheesy soundtrack.
The Extras
Fans of the 15th Anniversary DVD edition won't get anything new -- or in high-def. Most of the featurettes are kind of corny and play more like extended studio trailers. However, "Live From the Wrap Party," showcases some of the worst audio and video ever featured on a Blu-ray release. Part of this party, which looks like it was held in a high-school gymnasium, includes Gere playing an extended version of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" on the piano -- with director Garry Marshall on drums. Still, it's so awesomely embarrassing, that it solely scored this section its 1.5 stars.
Final Thoughts
After 19 years (yikes!), this simple fairytale still works, mainly because of its two lead characters. How else can you explain
Runaway Bride? While there are no new extras, the real attraction is the new look on this rom-com classic. If you are a super-fan of super chick flicks, it's worth the extra cash for the HD update.
Where to Buy:
Product Details
- Actors: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo, Hector Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy
- Director: Garry Marshall
- Audio/Languages: English 5.1 Uncompressed (48 kHz/24-bit), English 5.1, French and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital
- Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Region: A
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: R
- Studio: Touchstone Home Entertainment
- Blu-ray Disc Release Date: February 10, 2009
- Run Time: 120 minutes
- List Price: $34.99
- Extras:
- Blooper Reel
- Live From the Wrap Party
- LA: The Pretty Woman Tour
- Audio Commentary with Director Garry Marshall
- 1990 Production Featurette
- "Wild Women Do" Music Video
- Theatrical Trailer
